The 424th Stated Meeting of Far East Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M. was held at the Masonic Temple, No. 250 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan on the 8th day of April, 1995.
A Lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 14:10 hours with WB Welsh, WM in the East, WB Katagiri, PM, SW in the West, and Bro. Masaki, JW in the South.
At the sound of the gavel in the East, the lodge was raised for a moment of silent prayer in remembrance of MWB Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Jimenez, the first Grand Master of Japan, and WB William J. LaSalle, a PM of this Lodge, who passed to the Celestial Lodge on March 5th and 20 February 1995 respectively. After prayer, the WM ordered the Charter draped for 30 days to honor our departed Brethren.
The WM recognized the Distinguished Brethren as listed in the Tiler's Register of this date. He announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of April 1995, the first order of business would be the reading of the minutes of the last Stated Meeting and all subsequent Special Meetings.
The Secretary read the minutes for the Stated Meeting of 11 March, and they were approved as read.
Next was the Treasurer's report given by WB Hodges. It was moved by WB Hodges and seconded by Bro. Warnell that the Treasurer's report be approved as read, subject to the usual audit. MOTION CARRIED.
The Secretary then read the bills for the period and Bro. Warnell moved and WB Hodges seconded that the bills be paid. MOTION CARRIED.
Next was the report of the several committees:
CHARITY: Nothing to report.
SICK AND VISITATION: WB Hodges provided updates on WB Hunt's and WB Swanson's medical conditions and WB Katagiri provided updates on WB Ohashi's and WB Otani's medical conditions.
REFRESHMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT: Nothing to report.
FRIENDLY TIPS: Nothing to report.
COACHING: WB Watanabe reported that no EAs showed up on the first Saturday of the month, the day he had scheduled for degree practice. He commented that perhaps in the future he would change the practice to around 13:00 hours on the day of the Stated Meeting.
MASONIC EDUCATION/LODGE HISTORY: Nothing to report.
AUDIT: Nothing to report.
INVESTMENT: Nothing to report.
HOUSE: Nothing to report.
BALLOTTING: Nothing to report.
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: Nothing to report.
CORRESPONDENCE: The WM read the following correspondence from the GM.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: The WM presented WB Watanabe with his Past Master's Bar for 1994.
NEW BUSINESS: WB Hodges advised that the Lodge's bonds will be maturing in December of this year and that we must start thinking about a suitable replacement investment. Also, a motion was made by WB Welsh to increase the Secretary's honorarium due to the appreciation of the Yen. The motion was tabled for one month so that the Brethren could consider an appropriate amount for the increase. Finally, WB Watanabe stated that he had heard from Bro. Yabe in New York, and that Bro. Yabe had asked to say hello to the Brethren.
The WM then announced that there being no further business to come before this Lodge of MMs, we would proceed to close. Peace and harmony prevailing, this lodge was closed in due and ancient form at 15:52 hours with WB Welsh, WM in the East, WB Katagiri, PM, SW in the West, and Bro. Masaki, JW in the South.
There were 6 Brethren present.
APPROVED:
HENRY W. WELSH III
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
JIMMIE D. WARNELL
Secretary